Villagers put lives at risk to reach other end

Moderate rain in six villages of the Bankala panchayat cut off the area with the district headquarters, forcing thousands of villagers and students to cross the Markanda river at their own risk.

indiaUpdated: Jul 27, 2013 23:40 IST

Shalender Kalra Hindustan Times

Moderate rain in six villages of the Bankala panchayat cut off the area with the district headquarters, forcing thousands of villagers and students to cross the Markanda river at their own risk.

In the absence of the bridge on the Markanda river to connect the villages with national highway 72, people were always seen crossing the flooded river.

Residents of Makadwali, Kuan, Narela and Behdiwala villages were the most affected. These villages have a population of around 3,000 villagers.

The recent rain had also played havoc in villages and irrigated land was affected. Though people wait for the water level to recede, it is a risky affair as the water level may increase anytime suddenly.

Surprisingly, the villagers are located near the district headquarters, but their demands were never fulfilled.

Mehar Singh, Deep Chand and Raj Kumar said many a time they crossed the river on tractors in emergency cases. They said they had requested the administration several times for the construction of the bridge or a footbridge, but to no avail.

The villagers said there were many government employees in the area, who are the most inconvenienced when the water level of the Markanda river increases.

Notably, 22 people were stranded in the river recently, who were rescued in a two-hour rescue operation. An employee of the electricity board had a narrow escape in the flooded river.

Deputy commissioner Vikas Labroo said a deputation of the villagers had met him after which assistant commissioner Rana Prit Pal Singh was directed to visit the area.